Bert Clarence Payton Jr.

Bert Clarence Payton Jr., age 79, of Beech Grove, Indiana passed away at home on Tuesday, February 8, 2022. Bert was born February 5, 1943 in Claremore, Ok to Bert Sr. & Lorane Payton. Bert grew up in Nowatta, Ok near the reservation his mother was raised on. He was proud of the American Indian Delaware & Cherokee tribal heritage he was born into. Riding his horse to school gave him a lifelong love of horses, boots and hats. Bert started working young in the oilfields of Oklahoma. His Stepdad, Jack Winters operated Winters Water Well Drilling so Bert moved from oil wells to water wells following jobs. While in Kentucky Goldie Dyer caught his eye and heart at 16 & 17 yrs of age the Payton Family was formed. Kentucky also gave his first son Bert III, more awaited the Payton’s in Missouri and his second son Johnny arrived. Bert & Goldie thought bigger skies and more opportunities were in Indiana and they were right, blessed with Jeffrey, Ronnie and Debra made the family of seven complete. Bert landed a job at Drop Forged making tools for 10 years. Then General Motors was lucky enough to have him for 30 years when he retired from Truck and Bus Group building Chevy trucks, many of those years on a crane. Bert was a member of the Masonic Lodge, he & Goldie enjoyed grandkids, garage sales, and a little bit of time at the casino, watching races of cars and horses. Many conversations about football went on between the kids and grandkids about who was the better team, player & coach. He loved target shooting and was seldom without a knife or pistol in his boots.

Survivors include his children, Bert (Renee) Payton of Oklahoma, Jeff (Lori) Payton, Debra (Kevin) Lamping of Beech Grove, (Janie) Payton of Tennessee; grandchildren, April Payton, Jake Payton, Blake Hoover, John Michael Payton, Chris Payton, Krystal Payton, AJ Jones, Dawn Jones, Caroline Payton, Jeffery Payton, Marina Cora Payton, Lexi Byrd, Brian Payton, Amanda Payton, Dylan Hoover, Payton Lamping and Alyssa Lamping; and numerous great grandchildren.

Preceded in death by his wife of over 60 yrs Goldie; and sons, Ronnie and Johnny.

A visitation for Bert will take place on Saturday, February 19th, 2022 from 10:30 AM until 1:00 PM at Little and Sons Beech Grove, 1301 Main Street, Beech Grove, IN 46107. A funeral service will immediately follow at 1:00 PM also at the funeral home. A graveside service will follow at 3:00 PM at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Greenwood, IN.